The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 8 books · 1958 to 1987

Robert A. Heinlein

Science fictionClassic science fictionMilitary science fiction

Robert A. Heinlein was one of the "Big Three" of classic science fiction. His Future History follows humanity into space, and its hero Lazarus Long, born in 1912, lives for more than two thousand years. He also wrote Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip.

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Who appears in which book

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LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Robert A. Heinlein books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Future History

5 books · Set in spaceClassic science fiction
  1. 1Methuselah's Children1958With Lazarus LongBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Time Enough for Love1973With Lazarus LongBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Number of the Beast1980Buy on Amazon
  4. 4The Cat Who Walks Through Walls1985Buy on Amazon
  5. 5To Sail Beyond the Sunset1987With Maureen JohnsonBuy on Amazon

Standalone

3 books · Set in spaceClassic science fictionMilitary science fiction
  1. 1Starship Troopers1959With Johnny RicoBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Stranger in a Strange Land1961With Valentine Michael SmithBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress1966With Manuel Garcia O'KellyBuy on Amazon

Characters

7 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Future History

Standalone leads